Curtains finally close on FTC Intel gig

'Ethical and lawful'

The Federal Trade Commission has closed the file on its investigation of Intel's business practices. It has also closed its examination of the anti-competitive implications of the acquisition of Chips &Technology and the equity stake in Real3D held by Intel.

These are bookkeeping exercises - The FTC ceased active investigation of Intel's business practices in August 1999, and it effectively ended its investigation of the C&T/3D deals in February 1998, when it said it would not block the transactions.

In other words, Intel is as clean as a whistle, or in CEO Craig Barrett's words "conducts its business in an ethical and lawful manner". ®